Socialist Nithya Raman Elected Los Angeles Mayor, Defeating Incumbent

Nithya Raman, a 45-year-old Democrat with socialist leanings, has been elected the next mayor of Los Angeles, defeating incumbent Karen Bass. The victory marks a significant win for the American socialist movement, which has seen its influence grow nationwide. Raman, who immigrated from India at age six, previously accused Israel of "genocide" and of operating an "apartheid regime."

Raman secured approximately 52.1% of the vote compared to Bass's 47.9%, a difference of about 35,000 votes. While Bass initially led on election night, Raman's vote count increased as ballots cast on Election Day, often by younger voters, were tallied. Raman expressed her honor at being elected, acknowledging Bass's decades of service to the city. Bass conceded the loss, stating it was not the desired outcome but that the residents of Los Angeles had spoken.

Bass, 73, a former congresswoman and Los Angeles' first Black mayor, ran with the backing of the Democratic establishment, including Vice President Kamala Harris, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Governor Gavin Newsom. However, public dissatisfaction grew over issues like housing costs, homelessness, and the city's response to major wildfires in early 2025, which devastated parts of the Pacific Palisades and left many Jewish families displaced. Bass's absence from the city for over a day after the fires ignited, despite early warnings, drew public anger.

Raman, who previously supported Bass, announced her candidacy late in the election cycle, promising to halve homelessness by the 2028 Olympics, accelerate housing construction, and make the city more accessible to the middle class. She also pledged to dismiss Police Chief Jim McDonnell, citing his handling of immigration raids under the Trump administration, a move that the police union warned could lead to mass officer departures.

Raman's past statements, including calling Israel an "apartheid state" and the Gaza conflict a "genocide" in an interview with an anti-Israel streamer, have caused concern among Los Angeles' Jewish and Israeli communities. While she condemned Hamas after October 7th and criticized a national DSA statement for lacking empathy for Israeli victims, her stance has evolved. At a meeting with Jewish voters, she reiterated her accusations against Israel and called the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement a "legitimate means of non-violent protest," drawing negative reactions. Despite her attempts to clarify her position, many remain unconvinced. The Jewish Federation of Los Angeles stated it would work with Raman while demanding she protect Jewish and Israeli residents, while some liberal Jewish organizations expressed confidence in her, citing her past community engagement.

In a separate development in California, a proposed 5% wealth tax on billionaires, "Proposition 40," appears headed for defeat, with about 55% voting against it. The measure, which aimed to fund healthcare, was opposed by Governor Newsom due to concerns about capital flight, despite support from figures like Bernie Sanders. A massive fundraising campaign by Silicon Valley billionaires, including Google founder Sergey Brin and former CEO Eric Schmidt, opposed the tax. They also backed a competing measure, "Proposition 42," to prevent new taxes on financial assets and personal wealth, which is likely to pass.

Raman also faces ongoing pressure from the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), the organization that helped her rise. The national DSA leadership narrowly decided not to revoke their endorsement before the election but maintains demands for Raman to commit to supporting a boycott of Israel and opposing arms shipments through LAX. Failure to comply by early January could lead to her expulsion from the organization, a situation Raman has called "internal political theater."